title: Hematological benefits after spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy: perioperative and long-term outcome analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite the emphasis on its role, the spleen has commonly been removed in distal pancreatectomy. We designed this study to evaluate the efficacy of spleen salvage during distal pancreatectomy for patients with benign and borderline malignant tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2005 to July 2009, 82 patients underwent distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (DPS) and 78 patients underwent spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (SPDP). Medical records were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The demographics and final diagnoses were similar between the two groups. There were no significant differences in estimated blood loss, intraoperative transfusion and operative time between the two groups. More perioperative complications occurred in DPS group than in the SPDP group (p = 0.0344). Consequently, postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in SPDP group than in DPS group (p = 0.0273). Platelet counts on postoperative day (POD) 5, hemoglobin on POD 3, WBC counts and CRP level on POD 2 were significantly higher in the DPS group than in the SPDP group and these differences continued to be significant for months after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to frequent higher-grade complications, prolonged hospital stays, DPS appeared to result in severer hematological abnormalities. Even an effort to preserve adult spleen in distal pancreatectomy is worthwhile.
authors.forename: Ju Ling
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Cheng Wu
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Wen Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments / Q000009:adverse effects; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010976:Platelet Count; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013156:Splenectomy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers